U.S. patent number 8,864,029 [Application Number 13/672,060] was granted by the patent office on 2014-10-21 for method and system for exception processing of micr documents.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bank of America Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is Bank of America Corporation. Invention is credited to Raymond Glenn Beichler, Kathryn G. Harrington, David Craig McGlamery, Russell M. Parsons.
United States Patent |
8,864,029 |
McGlamery , et al. |
October 21, 2014 |
Method and system for exception processing of MICR documents
Abstract
MICR documents are read and sorted to a destination pocket for
processing subject to a determination that an exception does not
prevent the routing of the document. In example embodiments, for
example, an error does not prevent the routing of the document if
it is not related to the routing/transit field. In the case of
digit errors, an optical character recognition (OCR) process is
performed on the stored, electronic image of the document to
correct digit errors in the stored data read from the documents. If
a determination is made that correction or other exception
processing cannot be handled through the OCR process, the image and
corresponding MICR data is displayed on a user terminal, for manual
verification or correction by reference to an image of the
document, rather than the document itself.
Inventors: |
McGlamery; David Craig
(Mooresville, NC), Harrington; Kathryn G. (Fort Mill,
SC), Parsons; Russell M. (Chester, SC), Beichler; Raymond
Glenn (Fallston, MD) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bank of America Corporation |
Charlotte |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Bank of America Corporation
(Charlotte, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
34753174 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/672,060 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2012 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20130112748 A1 |
May 9, 2013 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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10905253 |
Dec 22, 2004 |
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10707669 |
Dec 31, 2003 |
7165723 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
235/449;
235/493 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06V
10/98 (20220101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
7/08 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;235/382,380,379,375,449,493 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 671 696 |
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Sep 1995 |
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EP |
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9-282387 |
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Oct 1997 |
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JP |
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Other References
Canadian Office Action dated Oct. 30, 2012 for Application No.
2,546,849. cited by applicant .
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for International
Application No. PCT/US2004/043832 dated Jul. 3, 2006. cited by
applicant .
International Search Report for International Application No.
PCT/US2004/043832 dated May 19, 2005. cited by applicant .
Written Opinion for International Application No. PCT/US2004/043832
dated May 19, 2005. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Le; Thien M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Springs; Michael A. Moore & Van
Allen PLLC Russell; Nicholas C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This Non-provisional patent application claims priority to U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/905,253, filed Dec. 22, 2004,
entitled "Method and System for Exception Processing of MICR
Documents" which is a continuation-in-part of and claims priority
from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/707,669, issued as U.S.
Pat. No. 7,165,723, filed Dec. 31, 2003, entitled "System and
Method for the Processing of MICR Documents that Produce Read
Errors." Each of which assigned to the assignee hereof and hereby
expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for processing images of magnetic ink character
recognition (MICR) encoded document, the method comprising:
receiving a MICR encoded document, wherein an image of the MICR
encoded document is captured; processing the MICR encoded document,
including storing MICR data and the image of the MICR encoded
document; identifying, during the processing, exception MICR
encoded documents, wherein an exception is one or more of a MICR
digit read error, a high-dollar error, or a programmed defined
exception; performing an optical character recognition (OCR)
process on at least one portion of an image of the exception MICR
encoded document, wherein at least a portion of the image of the
exception MICR encoded document substantially corresponds to stored
MICR data; determining, via a computer device processor, if the OCR
process on at least one portion of an image of the exception MICR
encoded document passes an established minimum read confidence;
applying, automatically upon passing the established minimum read
confidence, a correction for the exception MICR encoded document;
and merging a corrected exception MICR encoded document into the
processing of MICR encoded documents.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising routing the received
MICR encoded document to a specific destination based at least in
part on data determined during the processing of the MICR encoded
document, wherein routing is not stopped for an identified
exception MICR encoded document when the MICR encoded document can
be corrected.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining if at least
one portion of the image of the exception MICR encoded document
corresponds to stored MICR data prior to performing an OCR process
on the at least one portion of the image of the exception MICR
encoded document.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying, automatically upon
passing the established minimum read confidence, a correction for
the exception MICR encoded document further comprises applying the
correction to the exception MICR encoded document using a
comparison of a result of the OCR process and digits within the
stored MICR data that have been captured, wherein the captured
digits are correct, partial, or incorrect.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining if
additional errors are associated with the correction exception MICR
encoded document prior to merging the corrected exception MICR
encoded document into the processing of MICR encoded documents.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining if the OCR
process on at least one portion of an image of the exception MICR
encoded document fails the established minimum read confidence:
performing a second OCR process on at least two or more portion of
a failed MICR encoded document, wherein one of the at least two or
more portions of the failed MICR encoded document substantially
corresponds to stored MICR data; and determining if the OCR process
on the at least two portions of the failed MICR encoded document
passes established minimum read confidence.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising sending the failed MICR
encoded document to an operator for image based repair based on a
determination that the failed MICR encoded document does not pass
the established minimum read confidence.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing information
about the corrected exception MICR encoded document and the stored
MICR data into a master file to use to make corrections in
subsequent processing of MICR encoded documents.
9. A system for processing images of magnetic ink character
recognition (MICR) encoded document, the system comprising: a
memory device with computer-readable program code stored thereon; a
communication device; and a processing device operatively coupled
to the memory device and the communication device, wherein the
processing device is configured to execute the computer-readable
program code to: receive a MICR encoded document, wherein an image
of the MICR encoded document is captured; process the MICR encoded
document, including storing MICR data and the image of the MICR
encoded document; identify, during the processing, exception MICR
encoded documents, wherein an exception is one or more of a MICR
digit read error, a high-dollar error, or a programmed defined
exception; perform an optical character recognition (OCR) process
on at least one portion of an image of the exception MICR encoded
document, wherein at least a portion of the image of the exception
MICR encoded document substantially corresponds to stored MICR
data; determine if the OCR process on at least one portion of an
image of the exception MICR encoded document passes an established
minimum read confidence; apply, automatically upon passing the
established minimum read confidence, a correction for the exception
MICR encoded document; and merge a corrected exception MICR encoded
document into the processing of MICR encoded documents.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing device is further
configured to route the received MICR encoded document to a
specific destination based at least in part on data determined
during the processing of the MICR encoded document, wherein routing
is not stopped for an identified exception MICR encoded document
when the MICR encoded document can be corrected.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing device is further
configured to determine if at least one portion of the image of the
exception MICR encoded document corresponds to stored MICR data
prior to performing an OCR process on the at least one portion of
the image of the exception MICR encoded document.
12. The system of claim 9, wherein applying, automatically upon
passing the established minimum read confidence, a correction for
the exception MICR encoded document further comprises applying the
correction to the exception MICR encoded document using a
comparison of a result of the OCR process and digits within the
stored MICR data that have been captured, wherein the captured
digits are correct, partial, or incorrect.
13. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing device is further
configured to determine if additional errors are associated with
the correction exception MICR encoded document prior to merging the
corrected exception MICR encoded document into the processing of
MICR encoded documents.
14. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing device is further
configured to: determine if the OCR process on at least one portion
of an image of the exception MICR encoded document fails the
established minimum read confidence: perform a second OCR process
on at least two or more portion of a failed MICR encoded document,
wherein one of the at least two or more portions of the failed MICR
encoded document substantially corresponds to stored MICR data; and
determine if the OCR process on the at least two portions of the
failed MICR encoded document passes established minimum read
confidence.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processing device is
further configured to send the failed MICR encoded document to an
operator for image based repair based on a determination that the
failed MICR encoded document does not pass the established minimum
read confidence.
16. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing device is further
configured to store information about the corrected exception MICR
encoded document and the stored MICR data into a master file to use
to make corrections in subsequent processing of MICR encoded
documents.
17. A computer program product for processing images of magnetic
ink character recognition (MICR) encoded document, the computer
program product comprising at least one non-transitory
computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code
portions embodied therein, the computer-readable program code
portions comprising: an executable portion configured for receiving
a MICR encoded document, wherein an image of the MICR encoded
document is captured; an executable portion configured for
processing the MICR encoded document, including storing MICR data
and the image of the MICR encoded document; an executable portion
configured for identifying, during the processing, exception MICR
encoded documents, wherein an exception is one or more of a MICR
digit read error, a high-dollar error, or a programmed defined
exception; an executable portion configured for performing an
optical character recognition (OCR) process on at least one portion
of an image of the exception MICR encoded document, wherein at
least a portion of the image of the exception MICR encoded document
substantially corresponds to stored MICR data; an executable
portion configured for determining, via a computer device
processor, if the OCR process on at least one portion of an image
of the exception MICR encoded document passes an established
minimum read confidence; an executable portion configured for
applying, automatically upon passing the established minimum read
confidence, a correction for the exception MICR encoded document;
and an executable portion configured for merging a corrected
exception MICR encoded document into the processing of MICR encoded
documents.
18. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising an
executable portion configured for further comprising routing the
received MICR encoded document to a specific destination based at
least in part on data determined during the processing of the MICR
encoded document, wherein routing is not stopped for an identified
exception MICR encoded document when the MICR encoded document can
be corrected.
19. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising an
executable portion configured for determining if at least one
portion of the image of the exception MICR encoded document
corresponds to stored MICR data prior to performing an OCR process
on the at least one portion of the image of the exception MICR
encoded document.
20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein applying,
automatically upon passing the established minimum read confidence,
a correction for the exception MICR encoded document further
comprises applying the correction to the exception MICR encoded
document using a comparison of a result of the OCR process and
digits within the stored MICR data that have been captured, wherein
the captured digits are correct, partial, or incorrect.
21. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising an
executable portion configured for determining if additional errors
are associated with the correction exception MICR encoded document
prior to merging the corrected exception MICR encoded document into
the processing of MICR encoded documents.
22. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising: an
executable portion configured for determining if the OCR process on
at least one portion of an image of the exception MICR encoded
document fails the established minimum read confidence: an
executable portion configured for performing a second OCR process
on at least two or more portion of a failed MICR encoded document,
wherein one of the at least two or more portions of the failed MICR
encoded document substantially corresponds to stored MICR data; and
an executable portion configured for determining if the OCR process
on the at least two portions of the failed MICR encoded document
passes established minimum read confidence.
23. The computer program product of claim 22 further comprising an
executable portion configured for sending the failed MICR encoded
document to an operator for image based repair based on a
determination that the failed MICR encoded document does not pass
the established minimum read confidence.
24. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising an
executable portion configured for storing information about the
corrected exception MICR encoded document and the stored MICR data
into a master file to use to make corrections in subsequent
processing of MICR encoded documents.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Financial institutions have established various processes and
associations related to the exchange of documents evidencing
monetary transactions. Such documents are generally encoded with
magnetic ink so that information from the documents can be read by
machine. Such documents have thus become known as magnetic ink
character recognition (MICR) documents. Check processing and
sorting systems have also been developed in which a check or
similar MICR document has its image captured and stored
electronically. Such an image can be archived so that it is indexed
or joined with its accompanying data from a MICR read. In addition,
up until now, MICR documents have also been captured
photographically for storage in microfilm format. This feature is
being removed as electronic image processing and retrieval replaces
the use of microfilm.
The typical high-speed processing of documents having MICR data,
for example, checks, includes reading and storing a MICR line,
endorsing the document with applicable information, imaging the
item so that the image can be stored in an archive facility, and
sorting items for processing. Items for which the MICR reads
properly, and for which no errors are detected in the data, sort to
pockets for routine processing. Any items with a failed MICR read
or an exception are typically sorted to a reject pocket and are
handled through an exception process. The exception process
typically includes attempting to read the MICR with an alternate,
slower type of reader to achieve a better read rate, and if that
fails, manually reviewing the paper document and keying in the
appropriate data.
FIG. 1 is a flow chart which illustrates the current process for
processing MICR documents at many financial institutions. In FIG.
1, various steps in the process are represented by process blocks.
Process blocks can also represent stopping points or paths for
different types of items. At block 102, items with MICR data are
loaded into a high-speed processor. The MICR data on the item is
recognized and captured by a read head. The data is transferred to
a file for storage with indicators that signify which fields have
apparently read correctly, and which ones have failed to read.
Logic failures are also detected. A logic failure occurs when data
has apparently been captured successfully, but makes no sense, so
it must be assumed that the data as captured is erroneous. At block
102 of FIG. 1, items also typically pass through an endorsement
feature, which typically puts a date, location of scan, and other
data related to the financial institution performing the
processing. The item optionally can move through a microfilm unit
to have a photographic image captured. Next, the item moves under
and over image scanners. An image of the item (front and back) is
created and stored.
At block 104, based on the read of the document, instructions are
executed regarding the disposition of the item. All items with read
failures or logic issues are passed to a reject pocket at block
106. A correction process then takes place at block 108. Where an
item reads good, with good data, at block 104, the item goes
through high speed pocketing at block 110. In a typical check
processing environment, based on the read of the MICR data, items
are sorted into pockets as "on-us" items, as shown at block 112, or
"transit" items, as shown at block 114. An on-us item is an item
that is drawn on the financial institution doing the processing.
On-us items will typically be forwarded to other locations within
the financial institutions own franchise. Transit items are checks
drawn on other financial institutions, and are pocketed for
delivery to those institutions. In some financial institutions,
items can also be sorted to "truncation pockets" (not shown) for
items to be stored for a retention period and then discarded in
accordance with new practices allowing an image rather than
physical items be used as long-term documentation of a
transaction.
The data correction process, 108, also results in items eventually
being sorted into corrected, on-us items 116, and corrected,
transit items, 118. Items from the high-speed process are then
merged, eventually, with items from the correction or "reject
repair" process at block 120. Thus, both the reject items and the
good items, are typically eventually sorted to their destinations,
shown consolidated at blocks 122 and 124.
It should be noted that the process shown in FIG. 1 may include
both a "prime pass" a subsequent pass, also called a "subpass" or a
"rehandle," if on us or especially transit items need to ultimately
pocket into more physical pockets than are available on the sorting
equipment. For example, if items need to pocket into, say, 50
transit item pockets for 50 different destination banks, and a
sorter only has 30 pockets available for transit items, a subpass
or rehandle is needed. In such a case, for example, some items
might first be pocketed into a pocket that covers multiple
destinations such as all the banks in a certain state or region.
Then, the sorting process is repeated on these items to finally
separate them into individual pockets destined for each bank.
Errors can occur and the correction process can be invoked on
either the prime pass or the subpass.
In a typical financial institution, large numbers of MICR items
must go through the correction process, since any error in the read
of any field causes an item to sort to a reject pocket. In many
cases, the correction process includes the use of check mender
equipment to place correction strips on the bottom of each document
so new, readable MICR can be placed on each document. The resulting
delay considerably reduces the processing time for each batch of
MICR items processed by a financial institution.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention, disclosed herein by way of example
embodiments, can improve the processing time for large numbers of
MICR encoded documents within a financial institution. Through use
of an embodiment of the invention, the number of items which are
pocketed as rejects due to digit errors can be significantly
reduced. This reduction can be accomplished due to the realization
that only the routing/transit field from the MICR data of an item
needs to be read correctly in order for it to be properly pocketed.
Additionally, speed and efficiency of handling documents with
exceptions can be improved. Correction for documents which are
pocketed as rejects due to digit errors is improved through the use
of an image based correction process which can be referred to
herein as MICR image correction or "MIC." Embodiments of the
invention can also be used to correct image data received
electronically when paper documents have been scanned elsewhere.
Embodiments of the invention can additionally be used to process
documents with other exceptions, such as a dollar amount that is
above a threshold parameter.
According to some embodiments of the invention, a method of
processing a MICR encoded document and/or its image, where the
document is subject to an exception that may be related to a stored
data field includes the receiving of an image of the document. The
document can be routed to a destination subject to a determination
that the exception does not prevent the routing of the document. A
verification process can be performed on at least one portion of an
image of the document, wherein the at least one portion will
typically correspond to stored data related to the exception. A
correction can be applied to a stored data field based at least in
part on the verification process. In a prime pass, this correction
can involve the MIC process, or other exception handling. In some
embodiments, however, a master file is maintained to store
information about corrections applied, and the master file can be
used to make corrections in subsequent passes of the same
items.
In some embodiments, exceptions such as digit errors in stored data
fields can be corrected by an optical character recognition (OCR)
process that is performed on the stored, electronic image. The
portion of the document to which the OCR process is applied
corresponds to the stored data field. For example, if the error is
related to an account number, the OCR process is performed on a
snippet of the document that includes the account number. Note
however, that in such a case, a process according to an embodiment
of the invention can include routing the document to a destination
pocket and subsequently to a destination subject to a determination
that the exception(s) or error(s) do(es) not prevent the routing of
the document. In typical embodiments, an error or other exception
does not prevent the routing of the document if it is not related
to the routing/transit field. Embodiments of the correction process
can be applied to image data received from another institution
which scanned the MICR documents.
In the case of digit errors, the OCR process result is used to
apply a correction to the error in the stored data field. This
correction can be based on a comparison of the result of the OCR
process and the digits within the stored data field which have been
captured, albeit only partially or incorrectly. If a determination
is made that the correction cannot be successfully determined by
the comparison with the result of the OCR process, the image and
MICR data is displayed on a user terminal, for manual correction,
albeit by reference to an image of the document, rather than the
document itself.
In some embodiments, an improved correction process can be applied
when an error appears in a stored data field which has two or more
corresponding areas within the image of the item. For example, if
the error is in an amount, two results of an OCR process can be
used. One result can be obtained from optically scanning the MICR
line, and another result can be obtained from optically scanning a
written amount. In some cases, still another OCR process result can
be obtained if the amount is listed both numerically, and written
out.
In some embodiments, exceptions can be defined programmatically.
For example, an exception can be defined for when the dollar amount
of an item exceeds a pre-selected threshold parameter. Such an item
can then be verified using its image. This verification can be
accomplished either using the MIC process and treating the item as
if the amount has an error, or by immediate, operator
verification.
A system for processing MICR encoded documents according to
embodiments of the invention can include a sorter to sort and read
the documents and route documents to a destination pocket when an
exception condition does not prevent the routing. Such a sorter can
be operatively interconnected with a computing platform to provide,
among other elements, the OCR processing and apply corrections to
the error in the stored data field based on a comparison of the
result of an OCR process and the data in the stored field. The
computing platform can also provide for the storage and routing of
the images for manual verification and/or correction at user
terminals as required.
Computer program instructions, computer programs or computer code,
possibly in the form of a computer program product can implement
portions of the invention. These computer program code instructions
can operate a computing platform which controls a sorter and other
hardware within the system. With such a system, the handling of
physical items in order to process exceptions or perform reject
repair can be reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, many items having
exceptions, specifically exceptions which do not prevent the
routing of the items, can be routed to a destination and any
verification or correction required, whether automated or manual,
can be performed using only the images of the items. Additionally,
data referring to documents that were scanned elsewhere can be
verified and/or corrected. Thus, overall check processing time can
be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a flow diagram which illustrates a process in which all
MICR encoded items having MICR failures or other errors are routed
to a reject pocket for a physical data correction process.
FIG. 2A is a flow diagram which illustrates the processing of items
according to embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 2B is a flow diagram which illustrates the processing of items
according to embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 3A is a flowchart which illustrates further details of a
method of processing items according to some embodiments of the
invention.
FIG. 3B is a flowchart which illustrates further details of a
method of processing items according to some embodiments of the
invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart which illustrates a method of subpass or
rehandle processing of items according to some embodiments of the
invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system which handles MICR encoded
items according to some embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention will now be described in terms of specific,
example embodiments. It is to be understood that the invention is
not limited to the example embodiments disclosed. It should also be
understood that not every feature of the methods and systems
described is necessary to implement the invention as claimed in any
particular one of the appended claims. Various elements and
features of various embodiments are described to fully enable the
invention. It should also be understood that throughout this
disclosure, where a process or method is shown or described, the
steps of the method may be performed in any order or
simultaneously, unless it is clear from the context that one step
depends on another being performed first. With respect of
flowcharts, block diagrams and flow diagrams, not every possible
signal flow, data path, or process block is shown. Rather, for
clarity, only those important to the inventive concepts being
discussed relative to the drawing may be illustrated, although
others may be discussed in this description.
The meaning of certain terms as used generally in the context of
this disclosure should be understood as follows. Terms such as
"document" or "MICR encoded document" and the like are meant to
refer to any document which tends to be handled and sorted in large
volumes based on MICR information printed thereon. In the typical
context, such documents are checks which order a bank to pay a
certain sum to the order of another individual or entity. However,
other documents evidencing financial transactions relating to
banking, and for that matter, other kinds of documents, can be
"MICR encoded documents." Even in the typical banking context,
deposit slips are sometimes MICR encoded, read and sorted in a
fashion similar to checks.
Terms like "bank" and "financial institution" are used herein in
their broadest sense. Financial institutions that process
transactions and documents of the types discussed can include stock
brokerages, credit unions, and other types of institutions which
are not strictly "banks" in the historical sense. The use of terms
such as "bank" or "financial institution" herein is meant to
encompass all such possibilities.
References will be made at various places within this disclosure to
information contained in a "stored data field" or information
within such a field being "corrected." As previously discussed,
this terminology refers to the idea of correcting information about
MICR encoded documents which is stored in data structures for
retrieval and manipulation. There are many ways to design a system
to accommodate the storage of this information, as well as the
storage of electronic images of documents such as checks. Reference
will be made herein to updating strings and user bytes which either
are or refer to such fields in systems which process MICR documents
such as checks. In example embodiments, this terminology refers to
information stored in what is commonly known as a "check image
management system" (CIMS) and within a "check processing control
system" (CPCS). Such systems are well known within the banking
industry by those who work in the financial data processing fields.
Such data processing systems have historically been produced by the
International Business Machines Corporation and marketed to banking
and financial companies. Through the use of such systems, check
images and index information referring to the check images, which
typically includes the MICR data, can be stored in a single file
according to an industry standard "check image export" (CIE)
format. CIE has been used for many years by many banks to archive
check images for their own internal use. Images and index
information in such a system can be stored in the same file or
separated. In some environments, the index information is separated
and stored in an electronic cash letter (ECL) for communicating
between financial institutions for the purpose of settlement. Index
information can also be stored with electronic images in an "image
cash letter" (ICL) to provide for the truncation of the paper
documents. Again, these systems and techniques are well known by
those of ordinary skill in the financial information technology
arts.
In many places in this disclosure reference is made to an
"exception" as in the case of "exception processing" or the like.
What is meant by the term exception is any condition occurring when
a document is processed that causes a verification process to take
place as described herein. A verification process can be synonymous
with a correction process as in many cases, this exception will be
a MICR digit read error. However, embodiments of the present
invention provide for other exceptions to be defined
programmatically. In the examples discussed, high-dollar items,
relative to a pre-set threshold amount, can be defined as exception
items and verified or corrected in the same manner as if there were
a read error in the amount of the item, for example, if there were
a desire to verify checks from certain drawers or to certain
payees. In such a case, many items may in fact be correct, but a
verification process is used in part to determine this with
relative certainly.
FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are flow diagrams and process diagrams which
illustrate the flow, 200, of items according to some embodiments of
the invention FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B also show some of what happens to
stored MICR data according to some embodiments of the invention.
Further detail on how the data is handled is covered in FIGS. 3A,
3B, 4, and 5. At block 202 of FIG. 2A, MICR encoded items are
loaded into a high-speed processor. As before, the processor reads
the MICR data and the data is transferred to a file for storage. On
at least the prime pass, an item is endorsed, an image is created
and stored, and in some cases, a photographic image is made for
microfilm purposes. Block 203 represents an incoming image file
from another financial institution. The logic for the correction
process is the same as with paper processing. An image file would
be processed in a single pass. The incoming information may only be
electronic as the future of check processing changes from paper to
image. The MICR data for the images as captured by the sending bank
may still contain MICR digits errors from the sending bank MICR
capture equipment. The correction process will still follow the
logic as described in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B using the same image and
image technology, only without on-us paper and without any transit
images or items.
Blocks 204 and 205 of FIG. 2A together determine whether the items
qualify for automated exception processing. As before, a
determination is made at block 204 as to whether the item reads or
was read as good. If the item reads good, a determination is made
at block 205 as to whether it should be handled as a programmed
exception. In this example, the exception would be that the value
of the item exceeds a pre-set threshold parameter. If the item
exceeds the parameter, it is treated as a reject and the image is
assigned a reject user byte. At this point, if desired, it can be
handled by the MIC process described herein and further discussed
below. Alternatively, it can be immediately sent for manual
correction by essentially treating it as a physical reject. This
may be desired, for example, if mishandling of high-dollar items
were viewed as a significant risk. These alternative processing
paths are shown in FIG. 2A by dashed lines. In any case, if a
locally sorted paper item reads good, it is pocketed at block 206.
Pockets in the example of FIG. 2A eventually break down into a sort
of items into on-us items at block 208, and transit items at block
210. In some systems items can also be pocketed into truncation
pockets (not shown). In the example of FIG. 2A, good items also
cause a valid user byte to be generated in the CIMS/CPCS system at
block 212.
In process 200 of FIG. 2A, a determination is made at block 214 as
to the type of error, which occurred during the read of an item. In
the case of a logic failure related to a locally sorted paper item,
the item is routed to the traditional physical reject process which
commences at block 216 and the item is assigned a reject user byte.
If a digit error has occurred, that is an error in which a digit
within a field was not able to be read, the item is again routed to
the physical reject process if the error occurs in the
routing/transit (R/T) field and the item is assigned a reject user
byte. In such a case, the item cannot be sorted since the R/T field
determines the final destination of the item. However, if the digit
failure or digit error occurs in any other fields related to the
MICR encoded document, the item can still be sorted and pocketed at
high-speed. Thus, if the error as determined at block 214 is found
not to be a logic or routing/transit failure, the item is sorted
into a pocket at block 206, in the same manner as a good item. An
on-us or transit reject user byte will then be assigned to the item
indicating the item has sorted good, but needs further attention
for corrective purposes.
At block 218 of FIG. 2A, the MICR image correction process takes
place. The process can be the same regardless of where the paper
item was first read and sorted, and regardless of whether the item
is in its prime pass or a subpass. This process can also be used to
verify programmed exceptions, such as high-dollar items, by
treating them as if they had a digit error. Thus, it may still be
referred to as a correction process. CIMS/CPCS systems will
recognize all the items that have a on-us or transit reject user
byte. It is or was known at this point into which pocket the item
needs to be or has been sorted, since the information needed to
sort the item is generally determined from the routing/transit
number. Thus, in the case of locally sorted paper items, at the end
of the high-speed sort, items are pocketed as on-us items, 208,
which include good on-us items and on-us rejects, and transit
items, 210, which include good transit items and transit rejects.
In some embodiments, as previously discussed, a truncation pocket
will include good truncated items and truncation rejects, as
embodiments of the invention can be applied to items to be
truncated as well as to transit and on-us items.
Master file 219 can be created and accessed as part of the MIC
process. A master file for a particular unit of work (UOW) is
created when a MIC process is initiated on the prime pass. The file
is updated each time a transit or any other type of item which will
be rehandled is corrected through the MIC process. The information
stored in the master file, including any indexing, MICR data, and
sequence numbers will be stored until the subpass, where the same
rejects, and possibly new rejects will typically be encountered. At
this point, the rehandle rejects are reviewed and the master file
is checked to determine if each reject was previously rejected. If
so, the item is corrected using the original MIC information from
the master file. If not, or if there is a failure to access the
information, the rehandle reject will go through the same MIC
correction process that a prime pass reject goes through. Note that
there can be multiple subsequent passes or rehandles for a unit of
work, in which case a second or third rehandle will have access to
data in the master file not only from the prime pass, but also from
previous subpasses.
As in the prior art, paper rejects are handled with a physical
exception pocketing and correction process at block 220. This
process can be used to correct paper rejects, or to verify
exceptions, such as for high-dollar items, which were routed here
after processing at block 205. This process results in on-us items
pocketed at block 222 and transit items pocketed at block 224. In
each case, these items will now have good data stored within CIMS
and CPCS. These items are merged with the high-speed sorted items
at block 226. Once the process has been completed for a batch of
MICR encoded documents, the documents are stored in on-us pockets
228 and transit pockets 230, where in each case the physically
pocketed items include both good items and reject items. The
documents can now proceed to their destinations and any MICR data
correction necessary can be provided through the high-speed MICR
image correction process according to embodiments of the invention.
It should be noted that in the case of transit items, MICR data is
frequently exchanged via an electronic cash letter in parallel with
the presentment of paper documents. Thus, a financial institution
to which transit items are to be presented will be able to identify
and acquire the correct MICR information notwithstanding the fact
that the paper documents may not read error free.
FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are flow charts illustrating a process, 300,
for MIC reject repair in an example system based on CIMS and CPCS.
The data fields being repaired can correspond to paper items that
were first sorted either locally, or at another institution. The
process begins at block 301. At block 302, a determination is made
as to whether the current pass is a prime pass entry reject or a
rehandle entry reject. If a rehandle, processing proceeds to block
303, which specifies the process detailed in FIG. 4, discussed
below. If prime pass, processing proceeds to block 304. At block
304 the appropriate image and MICR information is retrieved from
CIMS and CPCS. This MICR information includes the various stored
data fields, and what in CIMS and CPCS parlance is referred to as a
"string" that includes a "user byte." In example embodiments of the
invention, the string designates an item as valid, as an on-us
reject, as a transit reject. The string can also designate the item
as simply a reject if it is a paper reject requiring paper reject
processing in the manner of the prior art. At block 305 an optical
character recognition process is performed on a snippet from the
image. On a first pass, in example embodiments, this snippet is at
least one portion of the image, the portion which includes the MICR
printed numbers which correspond to the stored data field in
question. The OCR process reads the snippet optically, as opposed
to with a MICR read head. At block 306, the result of the OCR
process is compared with the MICR data in the stored data field to
determine the likely, correct content of the field. This
determination can be made in such a way that the probability that
the field is actually supposed to be what is determined can be
assigned a confidence level.
A system according to embodiments of the invention can be set up to
test for a certain minimum confidence level as shown at block 308,
before allowing a correction to be applied to the stored data
field. In effect, the validity of the correction proposed is
subject to having been successfully determined by the comparison,
within a given confidence. This forces the system to only allow the
MIC error correction if there is a substantial likelihood that the
error correction will be successful in that the correct contents of
the stored data field will be determined and restored. In some
embodiments, required confidence levels can be set by the operators
of a system. Assuming the minimum read confidence level is passed
at block 308, a reject repair string based on the comparison of the
OCR result and the data in the stored field is updated at block
310. It should be noted that in the rehandle process, a failure to
match an item against the master file will result in correction as
if the item was a prime pass item, at block 310, as will be
understood through the fact that the MIC correction process is
referenced in FIG. 4, discussed below. At block 312, the process
repeats if there are additional errors to be corrected. If not, as
in the case where all needed reject repair items have been
corrected, the image repair string(s) are merged with the MICR data
at block 314. In example embodiments, all the corrected MICR data
is then merged into CIMS/CPCS at block 316.
If the minimum read confidence level is not achieved at block 308
of FIG. 3A, a test is made at block 318 to determine if the stored
data field with the failure corresponds to the amount field for the
item. If not, the image and the failed MICR data are sent to a
workstation for image-based repair at block 320. A repair string is
updated based on operator keying at block 322. The process then
returns again to block 312 where it repeats if there are additional
items to be corrected. Note that in this case, an operator only
needs to correct one item at a time, and furthermore works with an
image of the document rather than the document itself. Thus, within
the steps shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, working with paper rejects
has been completely eliminated.
Returning to block 318, if the error or failure is in an amount
field, at least one additional OCR process result is obtained from
a portion of the image at block 324. Thus, at least two portions of
the image have an OCR process performed for a comparison of the
result of an OCR process with the contents of a stored data field
when the field corresponds to an amount. In this example
embodiment, the OCR process is performed on the printed MICR and on
a written, numerical amount. All three of these pieces of
information can be compared at block 326. Note that depending on
the OCR algorithms and processes used, in most cases it is possible
to perform an OCR process on a written out amount as well as a
printed numerical amount. This would involve at least three
portions of the image having OCR results that can be compared with
data in a stored field. In any case, the comparison is again used
to determine how to correct an error in the stored field. At block
328, the result arrived at by this comparison is also checked
against a minimum read confidence level. If the minimum level is
achieved, the reject repair string data is updated at block 310.
Otherwise, the image is sent to a workstation for image-based
repair at block 320, as previously described.
Any of various known OCR algorithms can be applied to the process
described in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B to achieve the desired result.
Specific OCR products are available that have been designed to
optically determine and read printed MICR characters, handwriting,
printed amounts, etc. It is also known how to compare the results
of more than one algorithm, or the results of an algorithm with
stored values and make determinations within certain confidence
intervals. One way of accomplishing this is via a voting algorithm.
Optical character recognition is a mature art and it is readily
understood in the data processing arts how to apply it to achieve
various results. Various companies produce OCR products and systems
for varied applications, for example, ScanSoft, Inc. of
Massachusetts, in the United States.
FIG. 4 illustrates a rehandle, subsequent pass, or "subpass"
process, 400, according to example embodiments of the invention.
Each rehandle exception item, including digit error rejects other
exceptions, for example, high-dollar items, are input to the
process as shown at block 402. At block 404, the item is compared
with the data in master file 406 in an attempt to auto-correct by
updating a stored data field related to the exception using data
from the prime pass (or a previous subpass). If the auto-correct
process is successful at decision block 408, processing branches to
block 410, where a determination is made as to whether the item is
the last item in the unit of work. If so, corrected strings are
built in CPCS at block 412 and the process ends. If not, processing
branches back to block 404 where another auto-correct is attempted
on the next item in the unit.
If auto-correction using master file 406 fails at block 408, the
item goes through the regular MIC error correction process at block
414, just as it would if it was a prime pass item. Correction is
handled using stored images, 416. If the MIC process fails, or
cannot be used at block 418, just as for prime pass items, the
image is forwarded to a terminal at block 420, as before. In either
case, processing then branches to block 410 for a determination as
to whether the unit of work is complete. It should be noted that in
the case of exceptions such as high-dollar item exceptions,
processing can be routed, if desired, to immediate manual review at
a user terminal, just as described with respect to FIG. 2A and FIG.
2B.
FIG. 5 presents a system and network block diagram, which
illustrates the operating environment for at least some example
embodiments of the invention. Incoming paper items, in this case
checks, are shown at 502. The documents are sorted and read at a
high-speed sorter, 504. The checks pass through a capture area
where read heads capture the MICR data and organize it into stored
data fields. This data is transmitted to computer system 506 via
connectivity 508. This connectivity can be provided by any of
various types of networks, for example, System Network Architecture
(SNA), an internal Internet protocol (IP) network, or a local area
network (LAN). Computing system 506 stores the MICR data, master
files, and other required information on fixed storage media
510.
In the example of FIG. 5, electronic images 512 are captured,
forwarded to the computing system and stored. In the case of image
cash letters, an image file 513 with string data and on-us items
only would simply be presented to the bank for settlement. No paper
would physically be exchanged. In this case, all activity resides
(data and images) only in the computer based portion of FIG. 5.
High-speed sorter 504 sorts all items which can be sorted, and
routes the items into pockets 514. The sorted items include items
with digit errors, as long as the digit errors are not in the
routing/transit field. The sorting process allows items to
eventually be packaged for movement to appropriate areas. In the
example of FIG. 5, boxed transit items are shown at 516 and boxed
on-us items are shown at 518. Boxed truncation items (not shown)
can also be included. Items which cannot be routed, for example
paper reject 520, are routed to a low-speed document processor,
522, for processing as a paper reject. Note that items that have
been sorted for delivery to appropriate destinations, 516 and 518,
can now proceed through the normal process, while the data is
corrected using techniques based in computing system 506 and images
stored in fixed storage 510. The techniques previously discussed
relative to creating repair strings based on optical character
recognition results and comparisons are directed and controlled by
computer program code 524, at least in part stored in and read from
fixed storage 526. Note that in order to handle cases where minimum
confidence levels cannot be met by the OCR based algorithms, a
number of operator terminals, 528, are interfaced to computer
system 506 by Ethernet 530.
It cannot be overemphasized that the system of FIG. 5 is provided
as an illustrative example only. There are numerous types of
document sorting machines that can be used to provide the
sorting/capture/imaging functions. Most sorters typically have
conventional document diverting mechanisms which route the
documents to the various pockets. Sorting instructions to cause the
documents to be routed are received from a processor within the
sorting machine, or from an external computing platform, or
sometimes both depending on the particular operations being carried
out at any particular time. The computing platform can be a
mainframe, server, workstation, and even a desktop or personal
computer given the processing power that has been achieved in such
devices in recent years.
In any event, some embodiments of the invention can be implemented
through extensive use of computer program products, or computer
program instructions to carry out methods according to the
invention. These instructions in combination with a computing
platform processor and other devices form the means to carry out
embodiments of the invention. These computer program instructions
may be part of a computer program or multiple programs which are
supplied as a computer program product. Such a computer program
product may take the form of a computer readable media that allows
computer program instructions to be loaded into computing
platforms. In the example operating environment of FIG. 5, a
computer program product in the form of a medium containing the
appropriate instructions is shown as removable storage medium
532.
In addition to being supplied in the form of a machine readable
medium or media, computer program instructions which implement the
invention can also be supplied over a network. In this case the
medium is a stream of information being retrieved when the computer
program product is downloaded. Computer programs which implement
embodiments of the invention can reside on any medium that can
contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program
for use by or in connection with any computing platform or
instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The medium may
be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,
optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system or
device. For example, the computing platform, storage mediums,
connectivity, and sorting machine, can all be combined into one
large device and the computer program instructions could be stored
within an optical, magnetic, or electronic module type storage
devices.
In order to more fully enable the present invention, the following
details are presented on how strings within a CPCS system are
updated and managed according to some example embodiments of the
invention. As previously discussed, the invention can be
implemented in other types of systems. Detail on CPCS and CIMS is
presented as an example only. In an example CPCS system, good items
that are sorted to pockets build an "I-String" within CPCS with a
valid user byte. Items with digit errors that do not prevent
sorting and all paper reject items build on the same "I-String"
but, with other types of CPCS user bytes.
Items that are on-us with digit errors are sorted and build an
"On-Us Reject String" within CPCS with an "On-Us Reject" user byte.
Items that are transit with digit errors are sorted and build a
"Transit Reject String" within CPCS with a "Transit Reject" user
byte. Reject items, that is items that have digit errors in the
routing/transit field or have other problems are sorted to a reject
or "R" pocket for low speed processing and build a "Reject
D-string" within CPCS with a user byte that signifies a paper
reject. Thus, the CPCS entry will end and create four closed
strings: I-String, On-Us Reject String, Transit Reject String and a
Reject D-String.
Transit reject string specified images and data will download to
the OCR process. Certain digit errors will be corrected via this
process if the logic can correct a failed digit with a specified
confidence level. Similarly, on-us reject string specified images
and data download to the OCR process. Items with digits failing in
the amount field will go through an additional OCR/MICR/written
amount verification process to determine if handwriting, printed
numbers, or both can create a good read. Images and data for
remaining items will download to workstations for digit correction
via key entry by an operator referencing an image rather than a
paper document. In some embodiments, on-us items go through the
process of the invention with a low priority compared to transit
items.
Once all the transit rejects and/or all on-us rejects have been
corrected for a specified entry, the "I-String" can be merged with
a repair string(s) to create an "Adjusted I-String" or an
"M-String" indicating the items have been corrected. In at least
some embodiments, a final merge for all items in a batch waits
until reject D-string specified items have been corrected. However,
since employing an embodiment of the invention reduces the number
of reject D-string items, the time involved in processing the batch
is also reduced.
Specific embodiments of an invention are described herein. One of
ordinary skill in the computing, networking, and financial
information technology arts will quickly recognize that the
invention has other applications and can be used in other
environments. In fact, many embodiments and implementations are
possible. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the
scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described
above.
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